Despite volume growth, service levels in the UK pallet network sector have remained at 96%. Next day services account for 61.6% of the total volume with economy services comprising 38.4%, reflecting a slight increase in the use of next day services compared to the whole of 2024. To date in 2025 all pallet sizes have grown compared to 2024 volumes, increasing by 2.6% for full pallets, 2.8% for half pallets and 2.4% for quarter pallets, according to the Association of Pallet Networks.
This article was first published in the November 1st 2025 issue of Warehouse & Logistics News, subscribe to the magazine by clicking here.
United Pallet Network (UPN) has achieved ISO 14001:2015 certification, marking a major milestone in its mission to put sustainability at the core of palletised freight distribution. ISO 14001:2015 is the global standard for Environmental Management Systems, proving organisations manage environmental impact responsibly while driving sustainability, compliance, and continuous improvement across operations. Following a rigorous independent audit by the British Assessment Bureau, a UKAS-accredited body, UPN has been officially certified for its Environmental Management System recognising UPN’s structured, accountable, and transparent approach to reducing its environmental footprint.
Leading logistics network Pall-Ex and commercial property developer and investor Barberry have been given the go-ahead for the construction of a cutting-edge, state-of-the-art freight distribution hub in Leicestershire that will set the standard in the sector. A new Centre of Excellence – the largest build-to-suit pre-let deal in the UK this year – will cover 408,000 sq ft, with an additional 100,000 sq ft of canopy space, on a 14.2-hectare site. The £80 million facility will serve as the flagship logistics hub for the network and will house Pall-Ex’s UK and European headquarters.
A community-minded haulage company is celebrating expanding its business by kicking off a sponsorship deal with its local Football League club. Lincolnshire-based Hooper Haulage Ltd has agreed a two-year sponsorship deal with Lincoln City FC which will see its branding and logos adorn the Imps’ training wear. It comes at a time when the family-run business, which is a shareholder member of the Pallet-Track network, is also expanding its team due to an increase in demand for its pallet network and haulage services.
Six months after joining Palletline, recently appointed Head of HR, Leighton Hughes has rolled out one of the most comprehensive training and development programmes the business has ever undertaken – designed to empower staff, strengthen leadership, and prepare the company for one of the most significant periods of change in UK employment law. Bringing over 20 years of operational and HR leadership experience from retail, FMCG, and logistics-related sectors, Leighton joins Palletline with a remit to embed a unified approach to people development across the group’s businesses, whilst ensuring compliance and encouraging best practice across the group. The newly launched training programme, running through 2026 and beyond, features a mix of mandatory policy-led training and optional personal development courses, including: leadership skills and succession planning, soft skills development, effective communication, goal setting, handling difficult conversations and HR policy training.
It is encouraging to see the pallet sector having the dynamism to cope with next day services.
George Simpson
Features Editor
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